Best Natural Pain Relief for Cats

It's always difficult to see our cats in pain, especially they're normally rambunctious cat and happy. Whether it's short-term acute pain or long-lasting chronic pain, signs of discomfort in cats can be tricky to pick up on. Your cat might experience pain due to an injury (trauma), dental problems, surgery, digestive issues, or even cancer.

Treating pain in cats can be challenging, but it's crucial for keeping your friend comfortable and happy. We'll explore some all-natural pain relief for cats in this article, covering some alternative options as well. 

Natural Relief for Cats in Pain

In addition to prescribed medications from a veterinarian, some cats can also benefit from alternative therapies to relieve pain. Depending on the source of your cat's pain, natural relief for cat pain might include supplements like the supplements below.

1. Supplements for Cat Pain

Remember, non-prescription supplements have not been formally approved for safety or effectiveness. Always consult with your veterinarian when considering supplements or alternative therapies to support your cat's pain relief regimen.

CBD oil helps maintain a normal inflammatory response and relieves occasional stiffness and soreness. (4)

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Glucosamine chondroitin can help support joint and connective tissue health. (2)

Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids that support a healthy inflammatory response for cats. (3) 

2. Natural Pain Relief for Cats at Home

While working with your veterinarian is the foundation of treating pain in cats, you can also take steps at home to promote pain relief. 

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Natural pain relief for cats isn't just about medication. One of the best ways to prevent and alleviate pain, especially joint pain, is to manage your pet's weight. Many veterinarian-approved online resources can help you determine whether your cat might benefit from weight loss (5). 

Maintain a Safe & Calm Home

If your cat is recovering from an acute illness, injury, or surgery, keeping things quiet at home can help them heal. Bring their food and water closer to where they like to rest and make sure they can reach the litter box without any obstacles. If needed, keep other pets in another part of the house while your cat recovers.

Get Your Cat Some Exercise

If your cat suffers from chronic pain, encouraging them to move around, burn some calories, and build muscle may be beneficial. Toys are a great way to help cats exercise. Your veterinarian can help you determine the right activity level for your cat's needs. 

Cat Pain is Difficult to Identify

While dogs and cats can't tell us where it hurts, symptoms of pain in cats can be exceptionally subtle. Many cat owners will feel like their cat is "just being shy" or "slowing down" from old age.

Instead, there's usually a medical reason behind these changes in cats. Since pain often worsens over time, it's worthwhile to recognize the signs earlier rather than later.

Common Symptoms of Pain in Cats

Below are some of the most common things cats will do when they're in pain.

1. Increased Hiding

Cats don't like to show their weakness, so they hide when they're hurt. Cats tend to be very solitary in the wild, so a visible injury would make them vulnerable to predators. 

They have kept the instinct to hide away when they're in pain as a mode of survival. If your cat isn't out and about as much as they usually are, they could be in pain.

2. Withdrawn or Irritable Behavior

Cats in pain tend to withdraw into their own worlds and make a fuss when you try to disrupt them. In all likelihood, a withdrawn and irritable cat is trying to recover in their own way. 

If your cat is acting strangely irritable, it could be because they're trying to sort out the pain they're feeling. This is a sign that something is off, and you should contact your veterinarian.

3. Unusual Aggression

If light irritability turns to aggression, this could be an attempt to stop you from causing them more pain. If your cat normally loves being pet but suddenly snaps when you try to rub them, it could be an indication that they are in bodily pain. 

4. Not Eating or Drinking

If your cat is eating and drinking less, this is an indication that something is wrong. This is especially common in senior cats who are experiencing arthritic or internal pain. Common causes of cats not eating are dental pain, gastrointestinal pain, and serious anxiety. 

5. Unusual Changes in Posture & Gait

Cats may develop an unusual walk or a hunched, uncomfortable-looking posture when they are in pain. This could be an attempt to limit their physical pain by tensing or favoring muscles that don't aggravate their discomfort.

6. Jumping or Climbing Less

A reduction in jumping and climbing is a cause for concern, and a sign that you should make an appointment with the veterinarian. We don't realize how nimble and active cats are until they slow down. Cats love being up high in most cases, so a sudden decline in ability to jump suggests that there's something preventing them from doing so.

7. Licking or Biting The Painful Area

When cats bite or lick a specific area, it typically means that area is causing them some form of discomfort. This can also be a sign of anxiety, and in this case they are trying to comfort themselves or relieve boredom.

8. Reduced Grooming, Unkempt Fur

Lack of grooming is a significant red flag, especially in younger cats. Senior cats may lose interest in grooming, and this can be normal. In many cases, reduced grooming can be a sign of stress, illness, or pain.

9. Breathing Faster Than Normal

A rapid breathing pattern should not be ignored, especially if it persists more than once or twice. Lasting rapid breathing could be a sign of a serious health issue and your cat should be examined by a veterinarian.

10. Restlessness or Anxiety

Sudden onset of restless or anxious behavior could also be a sign that your cat is experiencing internal pain. They might be letting you know by acting out. 

Keep in mind that cats get zoomies, they go through unusual periods where they behave strangely, and they're generally unpredictable creatures sometimes. That said, you know your cat better than anyone - if something is going on, you likely have a sense of it. 

Cats are stoic and tend to hide their pain; unlike people, they don’t usually vocalize or draw attention to themselves. Tell your veterinarian about any changes in your cat's behavior, even if you think they're not significant. Your veterinarian will feel your cat's joints and abdomen, examine their skin, and look for potential dental issues.

Based on their findings, your veterinarian may also recommend running blood tests or taking x-rays to find the underlying cause of the pain.

Causes of Pain in Cats

There are many potential causes of pain in cats. While older cats are more prone to pain, cats of any age can experience significant discomfort due to injury, surgery, or illness.

Since symptoms of pain in cats can be similar across multiple causes, it's critical to have your cat diagnosed by a veterinarian so they can receive the correct treatment. Common causes of pain in cats include:

• Physical trauma (cuts, sprains, bone fractures, dislocated joints)
• Dental issues (gum disease, broken teeth)
• Recent surgery
• Arthritis
• Tick-borne illness
• Parasites
• Digestive issues
• Neurological problems
• Cancer

Types of Pain

Your cat may experience several different types of pain depending on the underlying medical cause. The primary pain types are:

1. Acute pain

Injuries like cuts, scrapes, bone fractures, and surgery cause short-term (acute) pain. This type of pain improves during healing and eventually goes away. While it's essential to treat pain after an injury or surgery, acute pain has a biological purpose -- it provides a signal that something is wrong.

2. Chronic pain

Acute pain has a purpose and a recent, specific cause. In contrast, chronic pain lasts for weeks to months past the expected healing time of an injury or illness. A damaged interpretation of pain signals causes it. Chronic pain is stressful for your cat and does not serve a biological purpose. 

3. Cancer pain

This type of pain is related to cancerous masses, or tumors, in the body. Cancer pain can come from a growing tumor pushing on organs or nerves. Pain can also stem from cancer treatments, like radiation and chemotherapy. Cancer pain can last for short or long periods depending on your pet's specific situation.

4. Neuropathic pain 

Neuropathic pain occurs when an injury or illness damages nerves. Amputations, diabetes, blood clots, and certain infections might cause neuropathic pain. 

Traditional Medications for Pain in Cats

As a rule, never give your cat any medication intended for humans--not even medicines available over the counter! Many human drugs can be toxic to pets and cause severe illness. Additionally, always consult a veterinarian before starting any new pain relief medications or supplements for your cat. 

Your veterinarian's recommendation for pain relief will depend on the cause of your cat's pain. Their prescription may include more than one medication, which can be a good thing! Some pain medicines work better together than alone. This effect allows your veterinarian to prescribe a lower dose of each medication, reducing side effects for your cat. 

Your veterinarian's pain relief recommendations for your cat might include:

• Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs relieve discomfort by interfering with inflammatory molecules that induce pain and swelling. They are used to treat mild to moderate pain. While NSAIDs are usually safe and effective at the correct dose for short periods, they can potentially lead to liver, kidney, and stomach problems with chronic use (1). Never give your cat over-the-counter NSAIDs; they can be dangerous. 

• Opioids: Veterinarians prescribe opioids for more severe pain, like pain after surgery, cancer pain, or pain from severe arthritis. The most common opioid pain medication used in cats is called buprenorphine. Other opioid medications include morphine, hydromorphone, codeine, and fentanyl. Fentanyl patches slowly release medicine through your pet's skin. Opioids can be necessary for maintaining a good quality of life in cats with severe pain.

• Steroids: Corticosteroids, often called steroids for short, are hormones naturally produced in your cat's adrenal glands. Veterinarians prescribe manufactured steroid medications like prednisolone for pain caused by inflammation. Your cat may receive steroid medication for arthritis, for example. Steroids can have both short-term and long-term side effects.

• Other medications: Gabapentin and amitriptyline are newer medications prescribed for pain in cats. Gabapentin is used to treat chronic pain and neuropathic pain. Amitriptyline is an antidepressant in people, but it may also help with nerve pain and anxiety in pets. While these drugs are thought of as mild pain relievers, cats can still experience side effects when taking them. 

Pain Relief for Cats is Possible

Managing pain in cats can be a challenge, but your feline friend can still enjoy a high quality of life.

Recognizing signs of pain in cats depends on learning normal cat behavior and monitoring how your cat usually acts at home. When you recognize signs of pain in cats, good veterinary care and a few easy lifestyle changes can help your cat feel better quickly and safely.

References:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17451496/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6035477/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6834330/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/)

https://petobesityprevention.org/weight-loss-cats